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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T151148Z
CREATED:20260105T170043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T151148Z
UID:10001035-1791309600-1791315000@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual GIST Patient Support Group
DESCRIPTION:The Patient Support Group meets via Zoom on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM ET (NYC Time). \nWe will start each group with a “Round Robin” in which anyone who feels like updating the group on how they are doing/feeling can do so. There is no pressure to speak if you prefer to simply listen. Once we complete our updates\, the group will have the opportunity for organic conversation to develop in relation to our emotional experiences around GIST\, and other challenges that we may be experiencing as a community. \nIn order to be able to moderate a flowing discussion\, the group will be capped at 15 people each month. The first 15 people into the Zoom waiting room will participate. Keep in mind that since the group is now open\, you don’t necessarily have to attend each month to participate. \nIf you wish to attend\, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting.
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-gist-patient-support-group-2023-first-2/2026-10-06/
CATEGORIES:Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GISTer-Support-Group-2022-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261007T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261007T140000
DTSTAMP:20260605T133934Z
CREATED:20240528T163612Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T133934Z
UID:10001108-1791378000-1791381600@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual GIST Caregiver Support Group
DESCRIPTION:Monthly Virtual Support Group for GIST Caregivers\nHeld on the first Wednesday of the month \nLRG hosts a monthly virtual support group for the caregivers. We will share our stories\, if you are comfortable\, and speak freely about the new fears and anxieties we might be feeling during this journey as a caregiver. The group will be a safe space not only to feel supported by your fellow caregivers\, but also a place to share our own coping mechanisms\, concerns\, successes and trials. All information shared will be kept confidential. \nIf you wish to attend\, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting. \nAbout the Group Leader:\nMarlene Nei\, GIST Caregiver\nAs an active member of The Life Raft Group\, Marlene advocates for the needs of the caregiver community because she feels they are an underrepresented group. It is her mission to advocate for the entire GIST community making sure they are equipped with the appropriate resources on their GIST journey.
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-gist-caregiver-support-group-2023-2/2026-10-07/
CATEGORIES:Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/caregiver-sg-2023.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261012T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261012T180000
DTSTAMP:20260605T133628Z
CREATED:20240528T163645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T133628Z
UID:10001261-1791828000-1791828000@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Florida Support Group
DESCRIPTION:Florida Support Group\nZoom\, 2nd Monday of the Month – 6pm ET\nOur moderator is a fellow GISTER/LRG Member from Florida diagnosed with GIST in late 2016.\nIf you wish to attend\, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting.
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-florida-support-group-2-2-2/2026-10-12/
CATEGORIES:Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/florida-support-group.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261014T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261014T120000
DTSTAMP:20261008T174908Z
CREATED:20260917T191547Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T174908Z
UID:10001669-1791979200-1791979200@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:NF1 & GIST: Expert and Patient Perspectives
DESCRIPTION:REGISTERJoin The Life Raft Group on October 14 at 12:00 PM for a patient-centered discussion about Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and its connection to GIST. Dr. Ciara Kelly of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Dr. John Glod of the National Institutes of Health will discuss what patients should know about NF1-associated GIST\, including current research and treatment considerations. Life Raft Group Board member and NF1/GIST patient Rob Taylor will also share his personal experience\, offering a patient perspective on navigating these diagnoses. \nThese webinars are for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any treatment or lifestyle changes. \nAbout Our Presenters:\n \nDr. Ciara Kelly\nMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center\n \nCiara Kelly\, MBBCh\, BAO is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who has expertise in treating and researching bone and soft tissue sarcomas and merkel cell carcinoma. She works very closely with a team of medical oncologists\, surgeons\, radiation oncologists\, nurses\, and patient support advocates. \nDr. Kelly’s research aims to develop new and more personalized therapies to treat sarcomas. She is actively involved in developing and designing clinical trials that will look at novel agents that target molecular changes within tumors. She is also studying innovative combination immunotherapy options that will harness a person’s own immune defenses to fight their cancer. \nDr. Kelly has a particular interest in advancing understanding of gastrointestinal stromal tumors and other sarcomas at the molecular level. She is using liquid biopsies to analyze tumor DNA in the blood and tumor biopsies to uncover a biomarker that will ultimately help match the best treatment option with each individual person’s tumor. Dr. Kelly is committed to designing and developing novel therapeutic clinical trials for GIST patients that incorporate correlative studies which provide an opportunity to further our understanding of this disease. \n \nDr. John Glod\nNational Institutes of Health \nDr. Glod obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in Denver and trained in pediatrics and pediatric oncology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital\, Johns Hopkins Hospital\, and the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the NCI. Following a fellowship in neuro-oncology at the NCI\, Dr. Glod served as faculty in the departments of pediatrics and pharmacology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Dr. Glod currently serves as the Clinical Director of the Pediatric Oncology Branch in the Center for Cancer Research at National Cancer Institute. Dr. Glod’s research interests are focused on early stage clinical trials for pediatric patients and rare pediatric solid tumors including multiple endocrine neoplasia-related medullary thyroid cancer\, SDH-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumor\, and tumors of the central nervous system. \n \nRob Taylor\nGIST Advocate\n \nRob Taylor is a GIST/NF1 patient\, Life Raft Group Board Member\, LRG Health Equity Council member\, and GIST Mentor. Drawing from his own experience navigating NF1 and GIST\, Rob is passionate about helping others better understand their diagnosis and feel empowered to advocate for the care they deserve. He dedicates significant time to GIST education\, patient support\, and advocacy\, working to ensure that the patient voice is represented in research\, healthcare\, and the broader GIST community. \nThank You to Our Sponsors:
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/nf1-gist-expert-and-patient-perspectives/
CATEGORIES:Education,Events,Webcast
ORGANIZER;CN="Rebecca Pauley":MAILTO:rpauley@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261015T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261015T200000
DTSTAMP:20261008T203650Z
CREATED:20261008T203046Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T203650Z
UID:10001673-1792094400-1792094400@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual GIST Caregiver Support Group
DESCRIPTION:Monthly Virtual Support Group for GIST Caregivers\nHeld on the third Thursday of the month @ 8PM ET \nLRG hosts a monthly virtual support group for the caregivers. We will share our stories\, if you are comfortable\, and speak freely about the new fears and anxieties we might be feeling during this journey as a caregiver. The group will be a safe space not only to feel supported by your fellow caregivers\, but also a place to share our own coping mechanisms\, concerns\, successes and trials. All information shared will be kept confidential. \nIf you wish to attend\, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting. \nAbout the Group Leader:\nDolly M\, GIST Caregiver\nAs an active member of The Life Raft Group\, Dolly advocates for the needs of the caregiver community. It is her mission to advocate for the entire GIST community making sure they are equipped with the appropriate resources on their GIST journey.
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-gist-caregiver-support-group/2026-10-15/
CATEGORIES:Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Support-Group-Thursday.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20261017T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20261017T160000
DTSTAMP:20260922T125208Z
CREATED:20260922T124017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T125208Z
UID:10001671-1792229400-1792252800@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:GIST Day of Learning Vancouver
DESCRIPTION:SATURDAY\, OCTOBER 17\, 2026 \nGIST Sarcoma Life Raft Group Canada \nEvent Details \nHosted by GIST Sarcoma Life Raft Group Canada\nLocation: Holiday Inn Vancouver Centre – 711 West Broadway\, Vancouver\, BC \nWhat to Expect \nExpert Presentations: We are honored to welcome Dr. Simmons from the BC Cancer Centre as a featured speaker. And\, speaking to us about Clinical Trials is Dr. Feng from Arthur JE Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. \nInformative Sessions: Learn about the newest developments in care\, including the latest clinical trial updates. \nAnnual General Meeting: Over the lunch hour\, we will be holding our AGM to discuss organizational updates and future initiatives. \nAGENDA & REGISTRATION
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/gist-day-of-learning-vancouver-2/
CATEGORIES:Education,Events
ORGANIZER;CN="GIST Sarcoma Life Raft Group Canada":MAILTO:yvonne.nunnaro@liferaftgroup.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T150000
DTSTAMP:20260226T154752Z
CREATED:20250710T225236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T154752Z
UID:10000845-1792508400-1792508400@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:SDH Support Group
DESCRIPTION:We are excited to announce the launch of a dedicated Support Group for SDH-GIST patients\, created to offer a welcoming space for connection\, understanding\, and shared experience. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been managing SDH for years\, this group is here to support you. Together\, we will share our stories and knowledge\, discuss challenges\, celebrate progress\, and offer encouragement to one another in a safe\, respectful environment. \nWhat to Expect: \n\nRegular virtual meetings\nPeer support and open discussion\nGuest speakers and educational sessions\nOpportunities to ask questions and share your story\n\nThis group will meet the 3rd Tuesdays of the month. Space is limited as we aim to keep the support groups small to allow for sharing & discussion.  If interested in the group\, please contact Becky Owens at bowens@liferaftgroup.org. A registration link will be sent to those who express interest. You are not alone\, and we hope this group becomes a meaningful part of your life.
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/sdh-support-group/2026-10-20/
CATEGORIES:Events,Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SDH-Support-Group-Event-Banner.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Becky Owens":MAILTO:bowens@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T193000
DTSTAMP:20260605T133728Z
CREATED:20230727T134306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T133728Z
UID:10000739-1792519200-1792524600@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual GIST Patient Support Group
DESCRIPTION:The Patient Support Group meets via Zoom on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM ET (NYC Time). \nWe will start each group with a “Round Robin” in which anyone who feels like updating the group on how they are doing/feeling can do so. There is no pressure to speak if you prefer to simply listen. Once we complete our updates\, the group will have the opportunity for organic conversation to develop in relation to our emotional experiences around GIST\, and other challenges that we may be experiencing as a community. \nIn order to be able to moderate a flowing discussion\, the group will be capped at 15 people each month. The first 15 people into the Zoom waiting room will participate. Keep in mind that since the group is now open\, you don’t necessarily have to attend each month to participate. \nIf you wish to attend\, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-gist-patient-support-group-third/2026-10-20/
CATEGORIES:Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GISTer-Support-Group-2022-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261024
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261025
DTSTAMP:20261015T160404Z
CREATED:20260605T160436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261015T160404Z
UID:10001666-1792800000-1792886399@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:GDOL San Diego
DESCRIPTION:GDOL San Diego will take place in-person at Moores Cancer Center\, 3855 Health Sciences Dr\, 2nd floor\, La Jolla\, CA 92037 on October 24\, 2026. \nREGISTERDownload PDF of Agenda (subject to change.) \n\n \n\n \n\nWhat is a GDOL?\n\nA GDOL is a GIST Day of Learning. This is a free one day event to help patients and caregivers learn more about this rare cancer\, find support\, and enhance their knowledge base to help them navigate their cancer journey\, \nThe Life Raft Group is committed to enhancing the survival and quality of life for people living with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)\, and other rare diseases\, through patient-powered research\, education and empowerment\, and global advocacy efforts. Our vision is to empower a future fueled by data\, guiding our journey toward cures for rare diseases. \nIf you have any questions\, please contact Brian Morello at bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/gdol-san-diego-2026/
LOCATION:Moores Cancer Center\, 3855 Health Sciences Dr\, La Jolla\, CA 92037\, La Jolla\, CA\, 92037\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education,Events
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261026T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261026T180000
DTSTAMP:20260605T133820Z
CREATED:20240823T175323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T133820Z
UID:10000873-1793037600-1793037600@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Texas Support Group
DESCRIPTION:Texas Support Group Zoom meeting on the 4th Monday of the month @ 6PM Central Time. Jackie Vanderpol will host this zoom meeting.\nIf you wish to attend\, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting.
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/virtual-texas-support-group/2026-10-26/
CATEGORIES:Events,Support Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://liferaftgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/texas-support-group.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Brian Morello":MAILTO:bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
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